Gold & Commodities Archives - Page 43 of 76

April 15, 2015

Gold Dollar pause

Long-term Treasury yields remain in a bear trend, with 10-year yields holding below resistance at 2.00%. Breach of support at 1.85% would signal another test of the primary level at 1.65%. A lower inflation outlook is translating into lower interest rate expectations.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The Dollar Index is likewise encountering resistance at 100. Breakout would signal an advance to 104*. Reversal below 96, however, would test primary support at 94.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 96 ) = 104

Gold is also consolidating, ranging between $1180 and $1220/ounce. Reversal below $1180 would signal a decline to $1000/ounce*, while breakout above $1220 would indicate a rally to $1300/ounce.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

April 15, 2015

Crude breakout: exercise caution

Nymex Light Crude broke resistance at $55/barrel, signaling the end of the narrow consolidation of the past few months. Some have heralded this as the end of the bear trend and start of a bull market.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude

If we examine the recent consolidation — shown here on June 2015 Light Crude futures — it is clear that it is broadening, with the second trough below the first, rather than rectangular. Peaks are likely to follow a similar pattern; so a higher peak does not necessarily mean a breakout. Broadening wedges tend to be unreliable reversal signals and I would wait for retracement that respects the new support level at $55 to confirm the breakout.

Nymex WTI Light Crude June 2015 Futures

April 9, 2015

Upsurge in global trade?

While commodity prices are tanking, with iron ore now trading below $50 per tonne, there are signs that international shipping of manufactured goods is on the increase. Shipbrokers Harper Petersen publish the Harpex, a weekly index of charter rates for container vessels. The recent up-turn reflects increased demand for container shipping — an important barometer of international trade.

Harpex Index

April 9, 2015

Dollar double bottom — gold tests support

Apologies for my recent absence. I seem to take longer to recover from a ‘flu virus than I used to. The Dollar Index, however, has made a robust recovery, breaking resistance at 98.50. Completion of a double-bottom suggests a new advance with a target of 104*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 96 ) = 104

Gold retreated below its former primary support level of $1200/ounce as the dollar strengthened. Breach of the rising trendline suggests the bear rally is over; follow-through below $1180 would confirm, strengthening the long-term target of $1000/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

April 4, 2015

Gold tests resistance as the dollar falls

Ten-year Treasury Note yields are testing support at 1.85% after consolidating below 2.00% for 2 weeks. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Failure of support at 1.85% would test primary support at 1.65%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Correction on the Dollar Index has lasted 3 weeks but continues to respect the first line of support at 95.50. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum also continues to indicate a strong (primary) up-trend. Recovery above 100 is likely and would offer a target of 110*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 90 ) = 110

Gold is testing resistance at $1200/ounce on the back of softer interest rates and a weak dollar. Breakout above $1220/ounce would indicate a rally to $1300. But 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Respect of $1300, or reversal below $1180 would suggest another test of primary support at $1140/$1150.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

April 3, 2015

The state of crude

Crude is consolidating in a narrow band between $44 and $55/barrel. Supply continues to exceed demand and storage facilities are approaching capacity. The bear trend is expected to continue. Failure of support at $44/barrel would confirm.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude

March 27, 2015

Gold hesitant response to weak Dollar

Ten-year Treasury Note yields are re-testing resistance at 2.00%. Recovery above 2.25% would indicate the correction is over and a rally to test the key resistance level of 3.00%. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero, however, continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Failure of support at 1.85% would signal a test of 1.65%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The Dollar retreated from long-term resistance at 100 as expectations of higher interest rates eased. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum signals a strong (primary) up-trend. Respect of support at 95.5 would confirm.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 90 ) = 110

Gold rallied on the back of a soft dollar and weak interest rate outlook, but failed to hold above $1200/ounce. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Follow-through below $1180 would warn of another test of support at $1140/$1150, while a rise above $1220 would test $1300.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

March 26, 2015

Crude consolidates

Saudi Arabia bombs its neighbor Yemen. Another war in the Middle East and crude prices rally. Nymex Light Crude retreated above support at $45/barrel, testing $50, while Brent Crude found support at $54. The Saudis are obviously concerned about the success of Iranian-backed rebels in their close neighbor and are prepared to intervene militarily (Putin will probably send a telegram of support, attempting to draw a parallel although the situation in Ukraine is vastly different). Expect further consolidation between $45 and $55 for Nymex Light Crude. Supply continues to exceed demand and storage facilities are approaching capacity. The bear trend is likely to continue despite the current interruption.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude

March 19, 2015

Gold rallies on Fed “dovish” statement

The Fed Open Market Committee (FOMC) dropped the word “patient”, but market bulls responded positively to its “dovish” post-meeting statement. Jeff Cox at CNBC writes:

… the mostly dovish statement made little fanfare over eliminating the word, and in fact stated specifically that “an increase in the target range for the federal funds rate remains unlikely at the April FOMC meeting,” a phrase missing from previous communiques……

“The Committee anticipates that it will be appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate when it has seen further improvement in the labor market and is reasonably confident that inflation will move back to its 2 percent objective over the medium term,” the statement said.

Like I said: “…. Janet Yellen will move when the time is right. And not before.”

Ten-year Treasury Note yields broke through 2.00%, warning of another test of primary support at 1.65%. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to signal a down-trend. Recovery above 2.00% is unlikely, but would signal a rally to 2.50%.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The Dollar retreated from long-term resistance at 100. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum signals a strong (primary) up-trend. Respect of support at 95.5 would indicate continuation of the trend.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 100 + ( 100 – 90 ) = 110

Gold rallied on the back of a softer dollar and weaker interest rate outlook. Expect a rally to test $1200/ounce, but respect of this level would reinforce the primary down-trend. Breach of support at $1140/$1150 would confirm. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the bear signal.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

March 16, 2015

Crude breaks support

Nymex light crude (April 2015 contract) broke support at $45/barrel, warning of a decline to $35/barrel*.

Nymex WTI Crude

* Target calculation: 45 – ( 55 – 45 ) = 35